Showrunner News

This update gives you the ability to train your staff! In addition, it adds a Staff Details screen which provides a little more detail on each member of your studio.

There are also a number of bug fixes and quality of life improvements.





- Staff Training added. Different training types will provide differing boosts to specific staff stats on top of a random element depending on how well the training went. Training costs funds and reduces staff energy. More training types are unlocked through increasing studio level. Each staff member can receive training once per month, this amount can also be increased at higher studio levels.





- Added Staff Details screen. Screen includes full details on current staff stat point scores and progress to next stat level, as well as procedurally generated staff description. Placeholders for staff skills and awards. Opening the Staff Details screen closes the Staff Sidebar panel. You can navigate to different staff details from within the Staff Details screen.
- The Character sidebar is now closed when opening the Character Details screen. You can navigate to different character details from within the Character Details screen.
- Added a CLEAR button to remove previously assigned character titles and revert the field back to empty.



- Fix for a crash that occured when loading a game that was saved when one show had stopped being made, but before a new show was begun. This lead to a crash as there wasn't a show theme set yet to determine what the stage should be. Now if there isn't a show theme set when loading a game, create a stage using the previous show's theme.
- Hopefully a fix for a crash related to the lead writer generating points. When you assign writers to an episode then close the screen the writers remain assigned, so if you then fire a writer you can still make them lead writer even through they aren't there. Firing a writer now removes them from the assigned writers list on top of the other lists. Did this for other job types to be on the safe side, although I think it already wasn't possible with them due to other checks.
- Fix for story interest changes (from themes that have a chance to give interest bonus for number of cards of a certain type) compounding over time rather than being reset to 0 for each episode.
- Fix for the 'No Moon' character combo not working correctly.
- The correct platform name will now be shown on contract renewal screens.
- Character Titles should be assigned to the correct character now (the one with the details panel open, not the one with the side panel open).

We're very happy to bring you version 0.36 of Showrunner! It adds 50 new scene cards, more than doubling the total available. Most of the new cards also have special effects which offer powerful synergies with other cards and with season themes! The previous scene cards have also been rebalanced.

The starting amount of Script Points has been upped from 100 to 1500 just for this build to help you quickly start unlocking the new cards to play around with!

Saves from the previous build of the game should still function with this version, but to get most of the new functionality and the new cards you'll need to start a new game in this version.



We've also added the Character Title system, which allows you to unlock and assign titles to characters which help to define their place in the world of your show. Titles selected with automatically generate a simple character description, but you can also write you own.



The UI for the Character Select screen has been reworked, with character/actor details moved to a sidebar to make room to show the season themes, season arcs and selected scene cards, as all of these may be relevant when picking characters for the episode.





- 50 new Scene Cards, most of which have new special rules.
- Two new Season Themes added (Growth, Justice). Many of the existing themes are now unlocked by a new card set rather than being unlocked from the start of the game. Two existing themes (Coming of Age, Friendship) bonuses changed so there are themes that are more directly useful for Comedy shows.



- Added the Character Title system, which includes a new screen and additions to the Character Details screen. Character Titles are unlocked by progressing the studio's overall archetype levels, and can then be applied to characters on the character details screen.
- Added Production Costs to episodes, currently always a low standard amount (will only be active in games started in this version or later, to avoid crashes)
- Can now select character gender on the character create screen, or leave it unspecified. Some other tweaks to the Character Create screen.
- Player can now rerun the casting process for a character, at increased cost. Each subsequent attempt increases that cost again. Number of recasts limited to 1 initially but can be increased by reaching certain studio levels.



- Reworked the balancing of all previous Scene Cards.
- Player starts with 1500 Script Points for this build rather than the usual 100
- Starting tokens are now much more limited and differ depending on which show genre you are making. Tokens carry across between seasons of a show, but are lost if a show ends completely.



- Lots of changes and tweaks to the Script Create screen, including new bars to indicate the level of points your script has in each stat type, reducing themes and arcs down from 6 to 5, nicer display of token numbers, episode and season number displayed.
- Reworking of the Character Select part of the Script Create flow, with character/actor details moved to a sidebar to make room to show the season themes, season arcs and selected scene cards, as all of these may be relevant when picking characters for the episode.
- Added coloured glows and matching title font colours to differentiate the following sidebars - Staff (Green), Job Applicants (Red) and Character (Yellow). Tweaks to character sidebar alignments.
- Message added to Character Combo screen when no combos currently unlocked.



- Fixed bug on Script Create screen where face points for cards could be duplicated visually on the card when removing another card

This update primarily allows studios to end existing shows and start new ones! In addition it also adds to the show contract system to make it more reactive.

Please not that due to structural changes required in the backend, saves from older builds won't be compatible with this new version. If you want to play with older saves, you'll need to opt in to the beta branch "beta - old builds" which gives you continued access to the previous build (v0.3405). Right click Showrunner in Steam, then properties, then betas, then select beta - old builds from the drop down. Set this drop down to None if you want to go to the latest version!



At the end of a season you can now end your existing show. This will allow you to create a new show, and will also fire all current actors. You'll see be able to see the stats for the previous show's characters and episodes on relevant screens by clicking back to them, but the screens will default to covering your new show.





Each contract now has two additional requirements - a deadline and a target interest.

The deadline is how many weeks you have to complete this season. If you overrun that time then any episodes completed afterwards will give you no episode or bonus fees when they're done, and it'll reduce your relationship with that broadcaster.

The target interest is the level of show interest you need to reach by the end of the season for the broadcaster to offer you a renewal for another season. If you hit the target then you'll also improve your relationship with the broadcaster, while failing it will reduce that relationship.

Each broadcaster has different levels of patience (which will affect how many weeks they give you to finish a season) and ambition (how much of a show interest increase they will want from the current levels). Their changing relationship score with you will affect how generous the financial terms they offer you are. If you make multiple seasons of a show successfully with a broadcaster then you can get much more favourable terms as their relationship with you increases. On the other hand, fail with a show and they will offer you lesser terms for your new show...

Additionally, you can only renew a season with the current broadcaster you're with. You can choose to end a show even when you're offered a renewal deal, if you're not offered one then you'll have no choice and will have to make a new show.



- Staff List now only shows currently employed staff rather than both current and former employees.
- Create Show pin that works as part of the flow to end a show and begin another also fixes progress issue if you left the Create Show screen at the start of the game.
- Create Studio pin added to fix similar progress issue for Create Studio screen.
- Moved staff search costs from miscellaneous to staff costs in finances.

Firstly I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who has purchased Showrunner! I also really appreciate all the helpful and constructive feedback and ideas that have been sent my way since it came out. Extra special thank you to everyone who's taken the time to give the game a positive review, it makes a massive difference here on Steam.

There's a long list of updates, new content and improvements planned and I just wanted to outline some of them to give you an idea of what to expect from the game in the coming months. This is by no means an exhaustive list, just the concepts and designs which are most solidly established at the moment and least likely to change (although please note that is still possible!)

[h2]More Scene Cards[/h2]
I'm planning to add a bunch more scene cards to offer more options for script creation. Some will be more specialised and situationally useful. The new card sets are likely to unlock some new season themes as well. Card filtering and sorting will also be added.

[h2]End One Show and Start Another[/h2]
Support for this was always planned and fortunately the game backend was built with it in mind, but I hadn't expected it to be an important feature for so many people! Accordingly I've moved it way up the priority list. You'll be able to stop making one show at the end of a season (or even be forced to if it completely tanks) and begins making a different one with your existing studio and staff.

[h2]Deeper Editing System[/h2]
Currently the Editing phase is the least interesting and important of the three phases of production. A more complex system will allow you to use the editing phase to steer the episode points in certain directions - for example focusing on adding drama points above all else, possibly even at the cost of existing points. Helpful for trying to focus on elements that are important for your chosen show genre.

[h2]Production Time Limit[/h2]
Based upon some great feedback here I'll be looking to limit how long you have to finish a season - a time limit specified when the contract is signed. Fail to finish the season in that time and you'll forfeit episode & bonus payments and potentially even have to pay a fee back!

[h2]Studio Loyalty System[/h2]
Gives you a Studio XP bonus for keeping staff around for a long time and developing their skills rather than just firing and replacing them. Doing the opposite will incur increasing Studio XP penalties. Will eventually also affect staff morale.

[h2]Expanded Character Traits[/h2]
Many Character Traits will be tied to specific character archetypes, in a similar way to different RPG character classes having access to different feats as they level up. A bunch more traits will also be added!

[h2]Character Relationships[/h2]
You may have already noticed this currently dormant section of the character screen. This system will allow relationships to be defined between characters, for example sibling, parent, child, friend, rival, enemy etc. Eventually the plan is to expand this further to cover groups and alignments - for example belonging to the rebel faction or the thieves guild or a particular study group at a community college.

[h2]Greater Character Flexibility[/h2]
Change Main Characters to Support or Vice Versa. Multiclass a character as two archetypes to gain access to more traits.

[h2]Character Title System[/h2]
Allows you to purchase Character Titles using Persona Points, which incrementally increase Character Popularity. These will help to flesh out and differentiate characters.

[h2]Staff Training[/h2]
Various training types will allow you to focus on improving particular skills for different staff, with training effectiveness able to be increased as the Studio level increases. This screen will also provide a more detailed breakdown of the existing stats that staff have.

[h2]Shared Dressing Rooms[/h2]
This room type functions similarly to the lead dressing rooms but allows for a number of lead and support actors to be assigned at once (whilst providing a lesser boost). The bonuses are factored in on top of the ones all actors receive from the Green Room. It also allows assigned actors to rehearse.

[h2]Hair & Makeup Room[/h2]
This room will allow the casting rating of actors to be increased (potentially beyond 100%) at the cost of having to sit there for a long time, losing energy and morale.

[h2]Rehearsal Mechanic[/h2]
Allows you to set actors to Rehearse, an action which will generate Persona Points but cost them energy over time. They can only rehearse a certain amount per appearance they've made in the show.

[h2]Brainstorming Mechanic[/h2]
Allows you to set writers to Brainstorm, an action which will generate Script Points but cost them energy over time. Writers can only brainstorm if they (and the writer's room) aren't currently working on a script.

As you can see, there's plenty to look forward to in Showrunner, stay tuned!

Thank you to everyone who has purchased Showrunner so far! This is a small patch to fix some of the most glaring issues that have come up since launch.

Crashes
- Fixed issue where show interest could reset to 100 after loading game.
- Fixed crash that occurred if a staff member got above 1000 points in an attribute and moved above S Tier.

Balancing
- Halved the multiplier value which calculates show viewers from 10k to 5k, as it seemed much too high (and was also giving massive bonuses)
- Contract bonuses too high - reduced base bonus reward multiplier down from 5 to 4
- Reduced the 'for every x viewers' bonus types payments down as it's probably still too high even with halved viewership
- Reduced base Persona Point rewards from an episode down from 50 to 35
- Increased most card cooldowns by 1 or 2 (left enough 1s at the start so you can always pick something even without researching)
- A Secret Revealed token cost increased by 1
- Increased staff search (and casting) costs substantially

UI
- Added rounding to Persona Point reward on episode completion to get rid of decimal rewards (also fixed underlying issue)
- Total viewers on episode complete changed to million rather than massive unreadable number
- Player should no longer be able to select the same card set to research in more than one slot at the same time
- Removed the function where the scene card sidebar list would go back to page 1 whenever you selected a card on any page (it was annoying)